The High Company of THANKSGIVING

Rev 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Thanksgiving is placed in the middle of the terms of worship to God.

Worship expresses what we think about God.  You cannot worship without thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is the response to some act of God.

We say “please” in order to get it.  We say “thank you” when we receive it.

THANKSGIVING (Heb. toda, or yaddah; Gk. eucharistia). The term most in use is charis. Charis is the Greek word for grace.

Thanksgiving is the acknowledgement that grace has happened.

I got something I don’t deserve.  The grace of God in Christ, operating in the soul of the believer.  This grace goes back to Him in gratitude: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” <2 Cor. 9:15>.

Thanksgiving sees (recognizes) grace everytime it thinks about God.

It doesn’t see the obvious—-it sees the implicit, the subtle, the hidden.  Grace in His death, burial, resurrection.  Grace in faith, repentance, water baptism, Holy Ghost baptism.  Grace in healing, blessing, need supplying.  Grace in worship, singing, preaching, teaching.  Grace in every aspect of living for God.

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Thanksgiving sees grace in bad things that happen to us.

1Thes 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

In the midst of the bad.  In spite of the bad.  Because of the bad.

Rev 7:12-17 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.  13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Who are the white-robed worshippers?

Great tribulation saints—-(Not necessarily THE great trib.)  The Tecklimarians, persecuted Christians, Russians, Chinese, Cubans, The sick who never complained.  The deprived who never coveted.  The victims of tragedy who never charged God.  The wounded who never got bitter.

These all recognize the greater grace they have received to go through their greater trial.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  To give thanksgiving is to join in worship with Blessing, and glory, and wisdom… and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.